Each soccer coach feels the strain to win.
The extent of stress can differ relying on the state of affairs. Some really feel the necessity to win this season as a result of they’ve been engaged on a rebuilding mission that’s delayed for years.
Some really feel the necessity to win this season as a result of they had been surprisingly poor final season. Some really feel the necessity to not solely win, however win massive each season as a result of that is what they anticipate from an elite program.
With the 12-team playoffs approaching, the strain to win this season might turn into much less or extra intense in some circumstances.
Some might really feel much less strain from not having to complete within the prime 4 to safe a spot within the match. Some might really feel extra strain as a result of the expanded subject will increase the expectations of incomes a CFP.
Completely different coaches will really feel completely different pressures relying on the standing of this system and the stage of their tenure.
Listed here are the school soccer coaches with essentially the most strain in 2024.
Ryan Day (Ohio State)
Okay, so Day’s job this yr is not fully in jeopardy. In spite of everything, his document with the Buckeyes was 56-8. However he does have one of the tense jobs in faculty soccer, not to mention a three-game dropping streak towards Michigan.
Ohio State adopted up its current loss to the Wolverines with an on-and-off loss to Missouri within the Cotton Bowl and completed seventh within the CFP rankings, its lowest rating since Day.
The Buckeyes are both No. 1 or No. 2 in most preseason rankings, so the strain is on Day to not solely beat Michigan however make a deep run within the CFP (ideally a nationwide championship ).
Will Corridor, Miss Southern
Expectations aren’t as excessive for the Golden Eagles as they’re for Ohio State, however after going 7-6 in 2022 with two 3-9 data, Corridor is confronted with constructing a group that performs properly. strain.
Mario Cristobal, Miami
Cristobal is getting into his third season, however expectations are rising for the Hurricanes from a extremely regarded recruiting and switch class. Cristobal’s second unit improved from 5-7 to 7-6 however fell in need of the place it ought to have been final season.
Miami appeared like it will enhance to 5-0 as they tried to expire the clock whereas taking a 20-17 lead and holding the ball in Georgia Tech territory within the last minute. However as a substitute of taking a knee, they ran the ball and misplaced a fumble on third down, giving the Yellow Jackets 74 yards and the profitable landing in 24 seconds.
The Canes by no means absolutely recovered and ended up dropping 4 of their previous 5 video games, elevating questions on whether or not their head coach was getting in the best way of what ought to have been a greater document.
Clark Lee, Vanderbilt
The Commodores’ historically modest expectations may solely hold the strain low for therefore lengthy. Lea is 2-10, 5-7 and 2-10, and whereas Vanderbilt is present process a $300 million athletic improve beginning in 2024, expectations could also be much less modest.
Billy Napier (Florida)
The Gators look to turn into a constant contender for the SEC title, with Texas and Oklahoma State getting deeper into the division as Napier’s first two groups completed 6-7 and 5-7 , Napier’s third group is below a variety of strain.
Mr. Sitak, Brigham Younger College
Sitaki is the third winningest coach in Cougars historical past with a 61-41 document in eight seasons. However after BYU ranked No. 11 within the 2020 AP playoff ballot with an 11-1 document, Sitaki’s group has had fewer wins (10-3, 8-5) for the third consecutive season. Loss, 5 wins, 7 losses). The general success of his tenure stays an asset, however there’s strain to start out the upward pattern once more.
Dave Aranda, Baylor
Simply three years in the past, the Bears went 12-2 and defeated Ole Miss within the Sugar Bowl. However Baylor adopted that landmark season with a 6-7 document earlier than slipping to 3-9 final season. Aranda is below strain to make a dramatic turnaround in 2024.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Pittman went 3-7 in his first season in 2020, then improved the Razorbacks to 9-4 in his second season. However over the previous two years, because the group fell to 7-6 and 4-8 with the arrivals of Texas and Oregon, Pittman has felt at the very least as a lot strain as Napier felt at Florida State.